Bucamaniac40
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: Garrett spurns Ravens, Falcons |
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Garrett spurns Ravens, Falcons to remain Cowboys coordinator
Associated Press
IRVING, Texas -- After looking into two coaching jobs, Jason Garrett decided to remain offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.
Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press
Jason Garrett walked away from two opportunities to become a head coach in 2008.
Garrett went through second interviews in Baltimore and Atlanta earlier this week, then returned to Dallas to meet with team owner Jerry Jones. The Ravens released a statement Thursday saying they had negotiated with Garrett but that he would be staying in Dallas.
The Falcons also released a statement saying Garrett informed them Thursday morning of his decision.
"Jason is an impressive individual, and a talented football coach," GM Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement. "I can tell you that we had great conversations and discussions with him yesterday. He has a terrific future ahead of him in the National Football League, and we wish him all the best."
Garrett was to discuss his decision with reporters at 3 p.m. ET.
Jones, who hired Garrett last year before hiring coach Wade Phillips, may have enticed Garrett to stay by noting the Cowboys are much closer to winning a Super Bowl than the other teams, pointing to Dallas' 13-3 regular season and the seven offensive players headed to the Pro Bowl. He also likely gave Garrett a raise, perhaps even approaching the $3 million per season made by Phillips.
Although Jones can't formally promise Garrett he'll be the next coach of the Cowboys, that's been the going theory since he joined the club roughly this time last year. Speculation that Jones would push aside Phillips and promote Garrett rather than risk losing him to another club was so strong last week that Jones held a news conference in part to deny it. He denied it again Sunday, after Dallas' season-ending loss to the New York Giants.
Jones learned to value Garrett during the years he spent as a backup to Troy Aikman in the 1990s. His father, Jim Garrett, worked for the organization for many years. Jason's older brother, John, is his tight ends coach.
While the 41-year-old Garrett was considered a coach even when he was playing, he's actually only been in that role for three seasons -- two in Miami and last season in Dallas.
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In his first year of building a game plan and calling plays, the Cowboys averaged the second-most points, third-most yards and fourth-most passing yards in the NFL. Tony Romo shattered team passing records, Terrell Owens set various receiving records and Jason Witten had one of the most prolific seasons by a tight end in league history. Running back Marion Barber even made the Pro Bowl as a backup.
"Jason's great," Witten said recently. "People are always talking that he's a third-year coach and all that, but if you're around him for five minutes you understand what he is. He'll be an outstanding head coach when the opportunity comes. His knowledge and just his charisma and his attitude, he's a great listener, a great communicator. ... I think you can see how driven he is."
Between the talent on the Cowboys roster, the fact Phillips will be 61 next season and Garrett's long, strong relationship with Jones, his decision to remain a coordinator makes sense -- even if there are only 32 head coaching jobs.
The one in Miami was filled Wednesday by Tony Sparano, who had been Dallas' assistant head coach and line coach. He worked closely with Garrett last season, helping ease him into the coordinator's job.
Replacing Sparano -- and, perhaps, other coaches who follow him to Miami -- is next on Jones' offseason to-do list.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
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